Primary Energy Demand - PET Bottles

In California in 2009, 73% of PET bottles in the state's deposit program ("CA CRV") were recycled and 27% were disposed in landfills. The graph depicts this mix (ie. energy requirements reported for materials recovery and reclamation are associated with recovering 0.73 kg of PET bottles). The model excludes production of capital equipment such as factories, vehicles, and machinery; infrastructure such as power plants, fossil fuel extraction equipment, pipelines, roads, and electric grids; land use and water use; and direct human activity.

The analysis omits polymer resin additives, inks, dyes, and adhesives; building and administrative overhead; production of the beverage itself; and retail / marketing. The data are from a report to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, presently under review. Publication in the literature is forthcoming.